Rotary fan



Jan. 31, 1928.

G. V. WlLLITS ROTARY FAN Filed July 12. 1927 2 Sheets-5heet l gwvento'GUY V. WILLITS 2/ Jan. 31, 1928..

1,657,983 G. V. WILLITS ROTARY FAN Filed July 12, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet eFIGZ iiiiii 2 mug- Wig a? k mm GUY. V. WILLITS iatenterl den. 31, 1328.

warren stares PATENT oFFics.

GUY V. IVILLITS, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

ROTARY FAN.

Application filed July 12,

This invention relates to rotary tan construction, and the prime featureof the invention is the provision of means for tilting the fan to anydesired working angle, either upwardly or downwardly, and at the same tme varying the blowing direction in a horizontal angle, without changingthe vertical angle of the tan breeze.

A further feature oi the invention is the provision of means for causingthe fan to revolve in a gyroscopic path around its supporting base, thetan traveling in a set path at all times.

it further feature or the invention is the provision of means forcausing the tan and its controlling motor to rotate in a circular path,while the supporting base remains stationary.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of means forsecurely locking the tan and its associated parts in fixed adjustedposition. 7

A further feature or": the invention is the provision or a flexiblemeans for holding parts of the tan structure against rotation, and atthe same time permitting said parts to be tilted to any desireo angle.

A turther feature oi the invention is the provision of means forconducting an electrical current from the stationary part o1 thestructure to the rotating part thereof, and in such manner that thecurrent will be fed to the motor of the fan at all times, during theoperation of the apparatus.

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter more fully set forthand pointed out in the accompanying specification.

in the accompanying drawings which are made a part of this applicationFigure 1 is a side elevation oi a fan structure showing in both full anddotted lines, the line of travel of the fan as ittravels on its base;Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view of the upper end of the tan base withits component parts; 3 is an elevation, showing in section, part of thetiltable non-rotatable portion of the tan structure; Fig. 4 is a sec-"ional view thru the rotating part of the fan structure; and Fig. 5 is adetail elevation of the flexible member for holding the non rotatablepart against rotation.

Referring to the drawingsin which similar reference numerals designatecorresponding parts thruout the several views, 1 indicates the base ofthe fan structure, which 1927. Serial No. 205,182.

may be constructed in the conventional or otl er preferred form, theupper end of the base terminating in a socket 2, in which is swivellymounted a stem 3 of a bifurcated head l, the stem 3 being normallyretained within the socket 2, by means of a set screw 0.

Between the paralleling arms 6 of the head i is a shank 7 of a bearing8, the shank being pivoted between said arms 6 by a pivot pi 9, said pinpassing thru one of said arrays. and the shank 7 and threading into theother arm, so that said arms may be ueezed against the shank to aid inholdsaid shank in adjusted position. Said shank is positively locked inadjusted position by means of aset screw 10, which threads thru one ofthe arms 6 and against one face of said shank.

Extending upwardly from the bearing 8 is a pivot pin 11, on which isloosely mounted a gear wheel 12, to the under face of w iieh is attacheda block 13 of insulating n'iaterial, thru which are extended posts 14and 15, carrying at their upper ends brushes 16 and 17,respectively,'said posts being con nected to current carrying wires 18.which in turn connect with the conventional switch 19. its the gearwheel 12 is loosely mounted on the pin 11, means is provided forpreventing rotation of the wheel and at the same time permitting thesame to be tilted to any desired angle, comprising a bar 20, preferablyround in cross section, the upper end of which is pivoted between cars21 on the 7 under face of the block 13, said bar 20 extending thru aneye 22 of an arm 23, fixed to the base 1. By arranging the bar 20 insuch iienible manner, the bearing 8 and gear wheel 12 may be tilted todifferent angles, as indicated by full and dotted lines in Fig. l. andat the same time holding said gear wheel against rotation.

Mounted on the pin 11, above the gear wheel 12. is a block 24 ofinsulating material, on which are mounted in luction rings and 26. whichcooperate respectively, with the brushes l6 and 17. said rings beingpreferably in stepped relation with each other. Connected with the rings25 and 26 are posts 2'? and 28, respectively, to which are attachedinduction wires 29 and by means 0t which the current is conveyed to themotor within the housing 80, said motor being employed for driving theconventional lit) form offan 31, The insulating block 24 and the housingare fixed to the pin 11 by means of a set screw 32, so that they willrotate therewith. The lower portion of the stem 3 has a pair of collarsthereon,'be-, tween which the end of the set screw, 5 passes, thusholding the stem against longi-' tudinal movement, but permitting thestem to'freely rotate.

The fan' 31 is caused to travel in a circular path around the base l byprovidinga cog 34, which meshes with the gear wheel 12, the cog 34 beingmounted on a shaft 35 extending downwardly in a bearing On the housing,ST-encasing the fan shaft 38. The shaft 3:3 is driven in theconventional manner from the shaft 38, and as the cog is in mesh withthe non-rotating gear 12 the fan will be caused to travel in a circularpath about the base .1, and as the cog 34 moves around the periphery ofthegear 12, said gear will rock orincline with the ever changingposition of the bearing 8, thus always maintaining the teeth/of the gear'12 inposition to mesh with the teeth of the cog84."

To compensate for, any variance of travel between the gear wheel 12 andthe cog 34, said'cog is loosely mounted on the shaft 35,

. and is normally held in fixed relation with the shaft by means of aspring 39, the tension of which forces the" hub of the cog against ashoulder 40 on the shaft 35 with suflicient force to cause the cog tonormally rotate with the shaft.- In the event that the move: ments ofthemechanism are inadvertently or otherwise obstructeththe cog 34 willslipon its shaft, automatically preventing operation of the gearsagainst destructive overloads. =The tensionof the spring 39 maybe'regulated by adjusting the nut 41 along on the lower endof the shaft.35, whichis threadedfor that purpose. e 7

fly providing tlierbar 20 and eye 22 and conducting the electricalenergy from its source of supply to the 'fan motor in the manner shown;the fan structure-is very I 'reatl' sim lified over former fanstructures g l ofithis class, thus notonly greatly reducing the costofproduction, but reducing the wearing parts to a minimum.withoutjeopardizlng the strength and durabllity of the device;

As'previously stated, the fan may be tilted inl a vertical direction, toany desired angle above or below the horizontal; by first ref leasingthe set screw 10 and loosening the the shank? of thebearing 8 pivoting'on-the-pin 9 with the'lowerend thereof swinging laterallybetween thearms -6.. After the fanhas been tilted to the proper angle the pin 9 andset screw 10 are again tightened-for holding the fan firmly in itsadjusted position. V

From the foregoing, it will be understood the invention into effect,

that the gear 12 does not rotate, but that it weaves about in a pathdeterminable by a succession of gyrated positions. r

The relat' edirection of rotation of the fan 31 and the. motor 30 issuch that the resulting gyroscopic force of same tends to rotate the fanmechanism as awhole, harmoniously withthe gears 12 and 34, in respect tothe socket 2. r g lVhile the description and drawing illustrate in ageneral way, certain instrumentalities which maybe employed in carryingit is evident that many modifications 'may beniade in the variousdetails, without departing from the scope of the appended claims, itbeing under: stood that the invention is not restrictedto the particularforms, herein described.

I claim as my invention 1. In a fan structure, a base having a socket atits upper end; a stem swivelly mounted in said socket; a bifurcated headattached to said stem; a bearing; a shank on the bearing adapted toenter between said bifurcated parts of the head; means for lockingsa'id'shanl: against movement be:- tween said bifurcated portions; a fanmotor carried by said bearing; a fan operated'by said motor; means forconveying electrical energy to said motor from .a stationary to amovable element said motor to travel in a circular path aroundits base.i

2. In a fan strncture,a base, having a socket in its upper end; a stemswivelly mounted in said socket; a bifurcated head on said stem; abearing pivotally attached and means for causing llH) said gear will beheld against,

rotation and have'weaving action; a fan 7 structure fixed to saidbearing; and means operated by the fan structure for causing it torotate around said base. 7 p v 3. In a fan structure, a base; aheadswivelled to said base 5; a bearing adjustablyiattache d-to said headand adapted to rotate therewith; a motor fixed to said bearing; a fanconnected to said motor and .operatable thereby; a gear mounted onsaid'hearing; means for flexibly connecting the gear with said base fortion and permitting said gear to weave rately as the bearing rotates anda cog op erated by said fan structure and meshing with said gear forcausing said fan to travel laterallyv in a circular path around-saidbase.

4. In a fan structure, a base; ahead sw'iv ellyconnected with said base;a bearing piv-,

oted to said head and adapted to'swingil-aterally; means for lockingsaid bearing in its adlusted position; "a gear wheel loosely mounted onsaidbear'ingg; a yielding con holding the gear against. rota-.

nection between said gear wheel and said base, whereby said gear maysuccessively tilt while being held against rotation on the bearing; atan proper; a motor for operating said tan; means for fixing said motorto said bearing; and a cog operated by said tan member and meshing withsaid gear for causing the fan to revolve around said base, when the tanis rotated.

5. In a fan structure, a base; a head swivelled to said base; a bearingadjustably attached to said head and adapted to rotate therewith; amotor fixed to said bearing; a tan connection to said motor andoperatable thereby; a gear mounted on said bearing; means for flexiblyconnecting the gear with said base for holding the gearagainst rotationand permitting said gear to weave as the bearing rotates; a cog operatedby said fan structure and meshing with said gear for causing said fan totravel laterally in a circular path around said base; and yield ingmeans for normally holding said cog in nxed relation with its operatingparts.

6. In a tan structure, a stationary base; a head rotat-ably attached tosaid base; a bearing adjustably attached to said head and rotatabletherewith; anon-rotatable gear wheel loosely mounted on said bearing;and means for conveying an electric current from the stationary base tosaid rotating parts and thru said gear wheel.

'1 In a tan structure, a stationary base; a head rotatably attached tosaid base; a bearing a djustably attached to said head and rotatabletherewith; a non-rotatable gear mounted on said bearing; a pair ofcurrent conveying brushes carried by said gear wheel; and a pair ofinduction rings carried by and rotatable with said bearing with whichsaid brushes cooperate, whereby an electric current may be conveyed froma stationary element to a rotating element without interruption to thecurrent.

8. In a fan structure, a base; a head swivelled to said base; a bearingadjustably attached to said head and adapted to rotate therewith; amotor fixed to said bearing; atan connected to said motor and operatablethereby; a gear mounted on said bearing; means for flexibly connectingthe gear with said base for holding the gear against rotation; andpermitting said gear to weave as the bearing rotates; and a cog operatedby said tan structure and meshing with said gear for causing said fan totravel laterally in a circular path around said base, in a directionharmonious with the gyroscopic force caused by rotation of said fan.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set mygiand on this the 6th day ofJuly, 1927, A.

euY v. WILLITs.

